What is the best strategy to get a room upgrade? Should I book my package via Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Apple Vacations, or direct with the hotel website?

Thanks!

I'm not sure there is a right answer, short of being an elite member of the hotel chain's frequent stay club (even if this is your first stay, I would join regardless and note your number in the reservation, as it can only help). Otherwise, I have seen such a proliferation of "pay xxx to upgrade today" offers at hotels, that I'm not sure just asking nicely will do it anymore.

I would think that direct with the hotel is your best method, but this isn't always the case. Some travel agents do enough business that their customers will get special treatment, at times. But, if this is the case, they will often state this in the room description.

But, I wouldn't go out of my way, as it does appear to be extremely random. I recently stayed at the Intercontinental in Boston. Booked via Priceline for $100 per night. You would think I would be at the bottom of the barrel. Yet, one of our rooms was upgraded to a very nice, 700 sq ft suite. So, you never can tell.

Booking with the hotel will give you an enormous advantage over booking on one of the travel booking sites. If there's a rate listed on one of those sites, call the hotel directly.

Ask for in-house reservations and share the rate showing on, for example EXPED, or TLOCITY. 99% of the time, they'll match it or come within $10 of that rate. In my experience, you will definately NOT get an upgrade if you book on one of the websites that is not the hotel website.

When I checked in to a top business hotel in Manhattan weeks ago, there was someone also checking in who had booked through Tlocity. First, the hotel did not have their reservation from Tlocity, even though the wannabe guest had printed the confirmation from Tlocity. The kind clerk explained that the hotel was nearly full and called Tlocity for the guest. The clerk then assisted getting the reservation booked. Not knowing when not to push, the guest requested an upgrade. This person was not a frequent stay member for this hotel. The clerk was very nice, but explained that the current rate for the hotel was about $399 per night for guests who booked directly. The clerk suggested that the guest contact the hotel directly next time to avoid both the reservation issue and the rate. While the guest who booked with Tlocity would be paying $329, a $70 savings, the hotel would only receive 60%, OR about $200 of the rate the guest paid. The request for upgrade was not honored.

Long story short: I had called ahead to the in-house reservations and they matched the Tlocity rate of $329, based on their "best rate on the web guarantee."

Also, when you book with one of the web services, you cannot earn your frequent stay nights, as they do not give you your points unless you book through the hotel.

So, booking directly with the hotel will make you more likely to receive that upgrade your're seeking!

Finally, I encountered a problem with my Tlocity booking last fall. I arrived on a late flight to a Marriott hotel room with NO BED. It was a "parlor suite." I was told that the legislature was in and all of the rooms were given away at that point. Travelocity would not help at all, saying I did get a room, even without a bed and that there was nothing they could do. The hotel told me that I WAS NOT THEIR GUEST and to call Travelocity.

I wound up sleeping on a very lumpy couch in the "parlor suite," as at that point, there were no options, since all hotels were full.

That was the last time I tried booking with Travelocity.

Good luck!

Wow mom23, I've heard of rooms without closets but without a bed?? The hotel should have walked you to another hotel. But I agree with you on the room upgrades. If people have Amex Platinum, or member ship with Andrew Harper QClub or book with a Virtuoso travel agent (an association of agencies) it's possible to get an upgrade upon arrival, based on availability. Other than that, I'd make friends with the reservations manager!

As Sheri said, book through Amex Platinum/Centurion, Virtuoso and I'd like to add Leading Hotels of the World (www.lhw.com) and Small Luxury Hotels (www.slh.com). There's probably more similar sites.

My experience is not vast nor have I ever gotten a free room upgrade, BUT I *always* deal directly with the hotel. Preferrably someone on location AT the hotel not just a reservation system for a hotel group.

That way you have a name of a person who will be on-site when you get there.

Oh I do remember one time. I got upgraded one room class at a Waikiki hotel, that I'm convinced happened only because I'd be emailing with the manager and he knew I was coming to celebrate my birthday.

Try to arrive fairly soon after check in time commences. There's not much chance if you arrive at 8pm for instance. Also..... from my daughter's experiences working in one of the bigger hotels here in Sydney, be nice to the check-in staff. Seems obvious, but she was constantly amazed by people who began complaining as soon as they approached the desk. It's too easy for staff to put you in a 'not so good' room if you upset them.

<i>Try to arrive fairly soon after check in time commences. There's not much chance if you arrive at 8pm for instance.</i>

I'm not sure about this. I think you should wait until later. If you check in at 3pm, then I would think you will get what you have reserved. If you check in at 8pm, with a guaranteed room type, then there is a greater chance that all of your room type will be full, at which point you will almost certainly get the upgrade - I think you are more likely to get the upgrade for operational reasons than out of largesse.

My sister got an upgrade in DFW's Drury Inn, and she checked in quite early.

It's probably the luck of the draw, though.

The two times I've gotten noticeably upgraded were late check-ins: one was at 2AM in London (on a $95 or so Priceline room) and the other at the Trident Gurgaon in India, where I got an executive suite...from 10:30PM to 2:30AM. I enjoyed it at the time, though! The London one was at Thistle Marble Arch; the lovely guy at the desk said sweetly that he'd try to make up for my bad flight experience (waiting 10 hours in Kaunas Lithuania) with a good room, and it was!

From what I understand, if you book &quot;run of the house&quot; rooms you're more likely to be upgraded if you're late, as the more expensive spots are the ones they're likely to have left.

No pattern noticeable. I think it depends on the chain, how fully booked, and the desk clerk. Twice I've had free upgrades just for asking when using Priceline (from lower level parkinglot to upper level golf course). One was an early check in and one was a late one. Once I checked in early and was offered a handicapped room, which turned out to be an upgrade.

Many hotels will match a base price but won't match another bonus that may be on Expedia, Orbitz etc. such as a gas card or a rebate attached to a specific credit card.

I you have an affinity such as the hotel's credit card or frequent user club you get some benefits no matter how you book, such as higher floor, late check out (but not the room points for Priceline or Hotwire).